Paper utensil



Aug. 2, 1938. G. B. LINDERMAN. JR y 2,125,793

PAPER UTENSIL Filed June 26, 1937 Gum/maf Patented Aug. 2, 1938 UNITEDSTATES PAPER UTENSIL Garrett B. Linderman, Jr., Hagerstown, Md., as-

signor to Kimberly Stuart, Neenah. Wis.

Application June 26, 1937, Serial No. 150,447

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to paper reeeptacles or utensils and isparticularly concerned with the production of inexpensive light weightbut yet durable receptacles that will compare satisfactorily withmetallic receptacles of similar size.

` Paper pie plates have been heretofore proposed wherein the plate ismade of molded paper pulp.

These plates have not been satisfactory because in the first place theywill not withstand baking temperatures unless they are speciallychemically treated, and it is accordingly necessary to bake the pie in ametal pan and transfer it to the paper plate. Also, those paper plateshave not possessed sufficient rigidity to be handled in the automaticpie plate handling machinery used in the modern bakeries. Moreover, theedges of the plates have been subject to considerable wear and tear andon the whole the paper plate has not presented a very attractiveappearance from the so-called sales appeal standpoint.

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to providepaper i utensils which are light in weight and of low cost and yet whichare rigid and are durable in use.

It is a further object of my invention to provide paper baking utensilswhich willstand up under baking temperatures and which are durable andpossess sufiicient rigidity to be handled in the automatic pie platehandling machines now in use in modern bakeries. I

It is a further object of the invention to apply to a pieplate orsimilar receptacle embodying pleated sides, a stifiening member whichrein- 35 forces the article and also securely holds the pleats in closedcondition.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent as thespecification proceeds in connection with the annexed drawing and fromthe appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pie plate embodying the presentinvention.

45 Figure 1a is a fragmental view of the edgeof the plate shown inFigure 1 before the metal rim is applied.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but shows a modified form of pieplate embodying the in- 50 vention. 4

Figure 2a is an edge view of Figure 2 showing the way the pleats appearbefore the metal rim is applied.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the plate shown 55 in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figures 3 and 4 .but shows a furthermodified form of rim.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 6--6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the plate shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the plate shown in Figure 2 andillustrates one method of joining l0 the free ends of the metal rim.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8, but shows a modified method ofsecuring the free ends of the metal rim.

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional view of the 15 laminated materialpreferably used in making the pie plates of the invention. i

With continued reference to the drawing wherein similar references areemployed to designate like parts throughout the several view there- 20of, I have illustrated a plate A, which may be made of paper or foil andpaper laminated material or any other suitable flexible material and ithas been illustrated as assuming the form of a pie plate having a bottomIIJ, a sloping side wall 25 II and a flange I2.

The plate is formed in a pair of dies and during this operation theexcess material forms what is known as random pleats I3 in side wall IIand when the dies assume the final position these pleats are crimped atso that the plate has a substantially smooth side wall and flange. Thepleats are so termed because no provision is made to cause the materialto fall about definite lines.

In other words the paper is placed flat in the dies and when pressure isapplied the pleats form at random in the material. After the plate hasbeen taken from the die, a metal rim I4, preferablyof light gauge metalis crimped about the flange and it performs three important functions.

First, it engages substantially `the full area of the flange andstiffens the entire plate, so that it may be handled as ordinary tin pieplates in shipment and also in the automatic pie plate handlingmachinery in bakeries. 4=

Secondly, it positively holds the pleatsformed in the flange inclosedposition, and therefore maintains theplate in operative assembledcondition at all times.

The metal rim also performs the function of preventing the edgesof theflange from being frayed, and itis particularly advantageous when alaminated material embodying metal foil is employed as it prevents thefoil from aking off.

Rim I4 may be made of any suitable material 55 ,having runden: nnmtyte.perform un tunetions desired such as vmolded papier-mache. a syntheticresin, thenj aluminum or steel, but I preferably employ a metallic rimaait `is-eally to apply. is inexpensive and gives the Plate an atc ve ance. tx.Inull'igureppeI have illustrated an edge view of -the nangeofthe plate of Figure 1 as it appears before `the metal rim is applied,showing how random pleats I3 occur in the side wall and also the flangeofthe plate. When the metal rim is clamped in place, it is apparent thatit prevents pleats I l from opening up, and thereby maintains the platein rigid unitary condition. Metal rim or band I4 has been illustrated ashaving a plurality of corrugations therein for enhancing .the grip uponthe flange and it will be more fully discussed hereinafter.

In Figures 2 and 2a I have shown a plate B whichisjsimilar to the plateof Figure l with the exception that it is provided with a definitenumber of pre-formed pleats Il'. The blank for which this plate is madehas a definite number of folds provided therein preliminary to operatingupon it in the dies. Pleats I5 are illustrated as eight in number andthey are accordingly deeper or overlap further than the pleats of theplate of Figure l, and this fact is illustrated in Figure 2a which showsone of the pleats in the flange before the metal rim is applied. Metalrim I I with the exception of having a smooth surface is of a formsimilar to that of Figure l and performs .the same functions. However,it is more important in this form of the invention than in Figure 1because pleats i5, being comparatively large, they exhibit more tendencyto 'open up than the smaller pleats.

In Figure 3 I have illustrated a sectional view of the plate of Figure 2and which illustrates how 4the metal rim Il cooperates with the ilangeIl of plate B.

Referring to Figure 4, plate B is provided with a modified flange Ilawhich is turned under at the edge for the purpose of affording itgreater rigidity. Meta-1 rim Ia is accordingly of slightly modified formto allow for the increased thickness of material at the edge of theplate.

In Figures 5, 6 and 7, I have illustrated a further modification of theinvention wherein metal rim itb is embossed to more tightly grip the-fiang'es of the plate and to also more smoothly assume a circular form.In this form of the invention plate B is provided with a single out--wardly extending flange I 'I and rim IIb is put in place around theplate and preferablysimultaneously operated on to provide embosseddepressions I9 which, as seen inv Figure '1, assume the form ofdepressions in the rim which terminate short of the periphery thereof.As seen in Figure 6 the effect of the embossed depressions il, which arestaggered with respect to each other, is to give the inner part of -themetalvrim a corrugated appearance. 'I'his form of the in'- ventionprovides an exceptionally rugged and durable plate as the embossed rimfirmly grip the flange I1' of there is no possibility ofthe twodetached.

the plate and parts becoming 111e free ends of the metal rim may bejoined in any suitable manner as for instance by suit'- able cementing,welding, soldering,riveting or crimping operations. 'y In Figure 8 Ihave shown the simple step of overlapping the free ends 2| and 2.2 ofrim Il.

By clamping the parts under sufficient pressure portions ofthe I' animosmanner. For instance, the parts may be put in a press and embossed as at21 under heavy pressure to `provide interlocking d^pressions in theparts.

The metal rims of the various forms of the invention may be applied tothe ange of the receptacles in any suitable manner by any desiredmachine or mechanism. For instance, the plates may be placed betweendies and the rims clamped upon the flange, or, if desired, rollers maybe used to achieve this result. Also, the rollers or dies may becorrugated to produce the article shown in Figures 6 and 7, and also inthis connection it is to be understood that the invention is not limitedto a metal rim having flat upper and lower surfaces as it may be ofrounded conilguration both above and below the ang'e so as to constitutea rounded bead.

'I'he invention is applicable to the formation of plates from flat paperstock and also laminated paper. As an example lof' laminated paper. Ihave illustrated in Figure 10 a sheet of cellulose paper 38 interposedbetween two sheets 39 and 40 of foil, for instance thin aluminum foilfrom 2 to 5 thousandths of an inch in thickness. The parts areintimately united in full surface engagement, preferably by a latex orcasein-latex adhesive, and when the stock is worked up into the platesof the invention it closely resembles metal and the metal rims of theinvention enables them to perform in all respects as metal plates andyet possess the extreme lightness of paper. When pie plates are thesubject of the invention the adhesive used is preferably a latex orcasein-adhesive which will withstand baking temperatures withoutbreaking down and allowing the parts to separate. It has also been foundthat with a layer of foil 39 and 40 on either side of the paper layer3l, it is unnecessary to fireproof the paper layer 3B.

Although by reason of their low cost the paper plates of the presentinvention are primarily designed for use but once, they nevertheless aredurable and vmay be washed in the same way as metal plates. Also, in theform ofthe invention shown in Figure 2, pleats Il! are arranged inthirds,'quarters, sixths or eighths so v,as to form a cutting guide forthe pie. l

Although I have chosen a pie plate as a speciic example for illustratingthe invention, it is to be understood that other receptacles of manydifferent forms and sizes may be produced in accordance therewith andare intended to be embraced by the appended claims.

The invention may be embodied in other speciflc forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrativeand not restrictive, the scope 1. A generally cup-shaped receptacleformed from flat sheet material and having a bottom, a side wall, and aflange extending outwardly from the periphery of said side wall, saidside wall and flange having pleats therein resulting from drawing saidflat sheet material into cupped form, the pleats of said side wallmerging with the pleats of said flange, and a rigid, peripherallyextending member encircling said receptacle and having rtionsfrictionally engaging all around the upper surface of the flange and thelower surface of the flange for positively maintaining the pleats ofboth said flange and said side wall in tightly closed condition, saidmember also being operable to stillen said receptacle and protect theedge of said flange.

2. A generally cup-shaped receptacle formed from flat sheet material andhaving a bottom, a side wall, and a flange extending outwardly from theperiphery of said side wall, said side wall andv said flange havingpleats therein resulting from drawing said sheet material into cuppedform, the pleats of said side Wall merging with the pleats of saidflange, and a rigid member encircling said receptacle and cooperatingwith said flange to stiften said receptacle, said member being generallyU-shaped in cross-section and engaging both the upper and lower surfacesof said flange throughout the entire periphery thereof in tightlyclamping relationship, for positively maintaining both the pleats ofsaid flange and said side wall in tightly closed condition, to therebyprovide a rigid unitary receptacle.

3. A generally cup-shaped receptacle formed from flat sheet material andhaving a bottom, a side wall, and a flange extending outwardly from theperiphery of said side wall, said side wall and said flange havingpleats therein resulting from drawing said sheet material into cuppedform,

the pleats of said side wall merging with the pleats of said flange, anda rigid member encircling said receptacle and cooperating with saidflange for protecting the edge of said flange and stiiening saidreceptacle, said member being U-shaped in cross-section and beingcorrugated around its inner periphery to make it conform to the shape ofthe flange and more rmly frictionally grip the latter, and said memberfirmly clamping said flange within it and being operable to maintain thepleats of both said side wall and flange in tightly closed condition.

4. A generally cup-shaped receptacle formed from flat sheet material andhaving a bottom, a side wall, and a flange extending outwardly from theperiphery of the side wall, said side wall and flange having a pluralityof substantially radially extending reversely bent gathering formationsresulting from drawing said material into cup form, the gatheringformations of said side wall merging with the gathering formations ofsaid flange, said gathering formations continuously increasing in widthfrom the bottom of said side wall to the periphery of said flange, saidgathering formations assuming a predetermined relationship to each otherand to the surfaces out of which they are formed when said receptacleassumes a cup-shaped configuration, and a rigid peripherally extendingmember encircling said receptacle and having portions frictionallyengagirig all around the upper surface of said flange and the lowersurface of said flange for positively maintaining the gatheringformations of both said side wall and said flange in said predeterminedrelationship, -so as to rigidly maintain said receptacle in cup-shapedconfiguration, said member also being operable to stillen saidreceptacle and protect the edge of said flange.

GARRETI B. LINDERMAN, Jn.

